The proverbial game of two halves yesterday. In the first 45 minutes Charlton picked up pretty much where we left off against Palace. Solid at the back, busy in midfield and looking dangerous up front. In the second half we were caught cold by two goals in a minute and were unable to fight-back. Paul Taylor, the referree, was dire and favoured Watford in many of his decisions. Call me petty, but coming from Hertfordshire hardly inspires a view of neutrality.
Anyway, to the game. I was disappointed to see us set-up with the same eleven that scraped a draw in Sheffield on Tuesday. I am assuming Bougherra is still injured as I believe he deserves a place ahead of Jon Fortune if fit. Fortune had a reasonable game yesterday but is playing at his peak and Bougherra will develop into a more consistent performer. I thought Ambrose and/or Sam deserved to be dropped following a number of games where they have not done enough, especially in the second half. With Cook and Thomas as the options, I would had Ambrose on the bench.
Nonetheless we set about the task with some determination and the opening goal was a well-worked gem. Halford played up to Gray who knocked on for Varney to collect in space before pulling the ball back through the turning Watford defence for Darren Ambrose to ram home from 8 yards. It all looked so easy and we continued to make the running before going two-up after 36 minutes. This time Halford burst down the right and fired in a low and hard cross which was curling back towards the on-rushing Varney and Gray. A desperate lunge from Danny Shittu was all it needed to divert the ball passed Lee and it looked all over. Charlton strolled off in the winter sunshine at the break and everyone in red looked happy.
Watford obviously took a rollocking at half time because they were out and ready to kick off fully five minutes before Pardew's men ambled back. The Watford tempo had quickened and they were visibly concentrating better than in the first period. After ten minutes they got the bit of good fortune they needed. The accomplished Tommy Smith picked up a Charlton clearance and turned back against the tide of on-rushing players. He cleverly played the ball through a gap behind the Charlton defence and O-Toole was clear to beat Weaver unopposed. From my vantage point in the East Stand I couldn't be sure, but O'Toole and another yellow shirted player looked offside. It was pointless looking to the referree as he hadn't seen anything all game. He missed a blatant corner in the first half when Lee palmed an effort wide and was reluctant to penalise several tackles which had merited bookings. As Charlton re-started I commented to a mate that we had to keep possession for three minutes to settle the game and get going again. Watford went straight downfield and won a corner. The ball in was met by Danny Shittu head and shoulders above the nearest challenge and he atoned for his earlier own goal. No further chorus of "there's only one Danny Shittu" from the North Stand.
The game was still there to be won. Level-pegging having scored twice with home advantage and fully half-an-hour to play. What was disappointing was we failed to fightback. We battled well enough but when we needed an inspirational run from someone, there was no-one to do it. I can't help thinking Andy Reid might have made a diference in the second half. Holland and Zheng Zhi were too busy scampering around the midfield to breakout. Lloyd Sam had enjoyed a decent first half but was again mis-firing and Darren Ambrose had dropped out altogether. Varney and Gray were still fighting up front but were short of support. It was time for a substitution but we waited another 13 minutes before Lee Cook eventually came on for Ambrose.
Cook got a noisy reception - from the Watford fans who clearly haven't forgotten his acrimonious transfer when he left them to join his beloved QPR in 2004. He was given the privilege of two men marking him for the rest of the game but still managed an impressive showing. He was fouled reepeatedly but delivered half-a-dozen decent crosses which were all well- defended.
Thomas came on for Sam and Iwelumo for Gray but we still couldn't find the urgency we needed and we actually spent the last ten minutes playing in our own half. If anything, Watford might have snatched the winner and it look a great last-ditch block from Jon Fortune to earn the point.
Paddy McCarthy was excellent today and good enough in his position to be able to pay attention to supporting Jon Fortune and Greg Halford. Apart from Cook's lively home debut there wasn't a great deal from the rest to comment on.
For me, it's time to stop dreaming about automatic promotion and concentrate on getting the points we need to finish with a play-off place. Looking at the table this morning, there is a far bigger risk of losing our play-off place than winning automatic promotion. A finish outside the top six will be unacceptable with the squad we have and the opportunities we have already missed.
Bah humbug!
Showing posts with label cook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cook. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Sheffield Wednesday 0 v Charlton Athletic 0
Normal service has been resumed after the heroics of Friday night. Charlton drew a blank here but can have few complaints.
The only Charlton change was Jon Fortune back in for the unfortunate Madjid Bougherra who sustained a foot injury in the Palace game. We started threfore with Weaver, Youga, Fortune, McCarthy, Halford, Ambrose, Holland, Zheng Zhi, Sam, Gray and Varney.
Wednesday started quickly and saw a lot of the ball in the opening five minutes managing their first corner and a header at Weaver from Showumni. Luke Varney got Charlton's first chance after 12 minutes having been played in by Lloyd Sam but the ball was on his weaker left foot and he fired wide. The match was scrappy and the referree was stopping it too frequently for niggly fouls. Things livened up after 25 minutes when Youga and Johnson clashed on the left and squared up to each other. Johnson threw a right arm which hit Youga but in the ensuing melee and clamour from the crowd, referree Keith Stroud took the soft option by booking both players. Weaver then saved from a Tudgay header that Richard Wood touched on and Charlton followed this with their best opportunity of the half when Zheng Zhi found Varney who ran on and pulled the ball back to Matty Holland but his shot clipped the upright.
Jermaine Johnson had been switched to the right side so that Wade Small could continue the harrassment of Kelly Youga and it paid dividends when Youga was given a final warning following a 50-50 tackle. Alan Pardew had seen enough and Youga was reluctantly substituted for Jose Semedo before the break.
The second half wasn't much better than the first. Charlton were unable to raise the tempo and conceded a succession of corners and free-kicks which Ronnie Wallwork largely wasted. Weaver saved smartly from Lee Bullen on the hour and Paddy Mccarthy stopped everything else that Wednesday could muster. Iwelumo came on for Gray on 63 minutes and Lee Cook made his debut for quiet Lloyd Sam minutes later.
Charlton had their best chance to win the match after 71 minutes when Greg Halford found Iwelumo and his flick was picked up by Zheng Zhi on the edge of the box. Zheng found Varney and he found the net but the linesman was flagging with Varney looking level to the BBC London commetary team. Zheng Zhi ballooned another opportunity from an Iwelumo knock down before the end but a winner might have been unfair on Wednesday who made a game of it.
For me this was another game in which our two wide men didn't do nearly enough. Ambrose and Sam are simply not pulling their weight and it's time we tried something else, especially away from home. Having said that, I don't think Lee Cook did anything of note in the 25 minutes he was on the field but the bloke's not played any football for ten months....
Alan Pardew will probably see this as a point won but we've lost ground at the top. Watford, Bristol City and Stoke all won tonight and move above West Brom who could only draw at home to Sheffield United. Bristol City's 1-0 victory at Scunthorpe probably hurts the most. Palace lost again and have slumped to 9th but that's a small consolation. We've now brought some pressure to bear on ourselves for the Watford game but maybe that will help. We will need another performance like Friday nights to reduce their 7 point advantage.
The only Charlton change was Jon Fortune back in for the unfortunate Madjid Bougherra who sustained a foot injury in the Palace game. We started threfore with Weaver, Youga, Fortune, McCarthy, Halford, Ambrose, Holland, Zheng Zhi, Sam, Gray and Varney.
Wednesday started quickly and saw a lot of the ball in the opening five minutes managing their first corner and a header at Weaver from Showumni. Luke Varney got Charlton's first chance after 12 minutes having been played in by Lloyd Sam but the ball was on his weaker left foot and he fired wide. The match was scrappy and the referree was stopping it too frequently for niggly fouls. Things livened up after 25 minutes when Youga and Johnson clashed on the left and squared up to each other. Johnson threw a right arm which hit Youga but in the ensuing melee and clamour from the crowd, referree Keith Stroud took the soft option by booking both players. Weaver then saved from a Tudgay header that Richard Wood touched on and Charlton followed this with their best opportunity of the half when Zheng Zhi found Varney who ran on and pulled the ball back to Matty Holland but his shot clipped the upright.
Jermaine Johnson had been switched to the right side so that Wade Small could continue the harrassment of Kelly Youga and it paid dividends when Youga was given a final warning following a 50-50 tackle. Alan Pardew had seen enough and Youga was reluctantly substituted for Jose Semedo before the break.
The second half wasn't much better than the first. Charlton were unable to raise the tempo and conceded a succession of corners and free-kicks which Ronnie Wallwork largely wasted. Weaver saved smartly from Lee Bullen on the hour and Paddy Mccarthy stopped everything else that Wednesday could muster. Iwelumo came on for Gray on 63 minutes and Lee Cook made his debut for quiet Lloyd Sam minutes later.
Charlton had their best chance to win the match after 71 minutes when Greg Halford found Iwelumo and his flick was picked up by Zheng Zhi on the edge of the box. Zheng found Varney and he found the net but the linesman was flagging with Varney looking level to the BBC London commetary team. Zheng Zhi ballooned another opportunity from an Iwelumo knock down before the end but a winner might have been unfair on Wednesday who made a game of it.
For me this was another game in which our two wide men didn't do nearly enough. Ambrose and Sam are simply not pulling their weight and it's time we tried something else, especially away from home. Having said that, I don't think Lee Cook did anything of note in the 25 minutes he was on the field but the bloke's not played any football for ten months....
Alan Pardew will probably see this as a point won but we've lost ground at the top. Watford, Bristol City and Stoke all won tonight and move above West Brom who could only draw at home to Sheffield United. Bristol City's 1-0 victory at Scunthorpe probably hurts the most. Palace lost again and have slumped to 9th but that's a small consolation. We've now brought some pressure to bear on ourselves for the Watford game but maybe that will help. We will need another performance like Friday nights to reduce their 7 point advantage.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Reid out, Halford and Cook in...
The lure of the Premiership and being part of the Irish revolution at Sunderland has proved too much for Andy Reid. Hopefully he will get the chance now to finally show what he's capable of if he can steer clear of injuries and keep himself fully fit. The big shorts favoured by those north-east clubs will also suit him.
Coming in on loan are right-back Greg Halford (23) and left winger Lee Cook (25). Both have had fixed fortunes since relatively big money moves to Sunderland and Fulham respectively and both have something to prove. Cook will give us options on the left wing and is reckoned to be a very good crosser of the ball, something that Jerome Thomas and Darren Ambrose could both improve on. Halford will presumably provide cover for Yassin Moutaouakil and effectively replaces Danny Mills.
Assuming there are no late surprises, interest in Jerome Thomas again appears to have dissapated and maybe he will knuckle down and concentrate on doing what he's best at and finally earning a regular place on merit by running at defences and creating goals. The freak accident to Chris Dickson that will put him out for 3 months (apparently he twisted a knee in Reception but "freak accident in a hotel" is often a euphemism for something Fishy!) means Izale McLeod will be retained. Maybe a last opportunity for Izale to show us that he can score goals outside the lower leagues.
On reflection, we appear to have come out of the transfer window better than anticipated. We've probably strengthened the squad in terms of playing options and have actually made a bit of money with which to fund Halford and Cook's wages. I don't believe many, if any of our rivals have actually fared better than us, so we should be able to get our heads down and focus on the run-in.
Coming in on loan are right-back Greg Halford (23) and left winger Lee Cook (25). Both have had fixed fortunes since relatively big money moves to Sunderland and Fulham respectively and both have something to prove. Cook will give us options on the left wing and is reckoned to be a very good crosser of the ball, something that Jerome Thomas and Darren Ambrose could both improve on. Halford will presumably provide cover for Yassin Moutaouakil and effectively replaces Danny Mills.
Assuming there are no late surprises, interest in Jerome Thomas again appears to have dissapated and maybe he will knuckle down and concentrate on doing what he's best at and finally earning a regular place on merit by running at defences and creating goals. The freak accident to Chris Dickson that will put him out for 3 months (apparently he twisted a knee in Reception but "freak accident in a hotel" is often a euphemism for something Fishy!) means Izale McLeod will be retained. Maybe a last opportunity for Izale to show us that he can score goals outside the lower leagues.
On reflection, we appear to have come out of the transfer window better than anticipated. We've probably strengthened the squad in terms of playing options and have actually made a bit of money with which to fund Halford and Cook's wages. I don't believe many, if any of our rivals have actually fared better than us, so we should be able to get our heads down and focus on the run-in.
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